I No Longer Steal From Nature

Music by Vance Lehmkuhl; Lyrics by Abul Ala al-Ma'arri (973-1058)From the album "Stay Crunchy"

We are diseased in understanding and religion
Come to hear something of sound truth
Do not unjustly eat fish the water has given up,
And do not desire as food the flesh of slaughtered animals
Or the white milk of mothers
Who intended its pure draught for their young,
Not noble ladies.

And do not grieve the unsuspecting birds by taking eggs,
For injustice is the worst of crimes
And spare the honey which the bees get industriously
From the flowers of fragrant plants
For they did not store it that it might belong to others,
Nor did they gather it for bounty and gifts.

I washed my hands of all this, and wish that I'd perceived my way
Before my hair went gray.